Thank you Mum (I think)…

I’d like to start by saying that I have used this forum to get the opinions of others who I admitted probably have more knowledge than me when it comes to the ins and outs of PTO (bylaws etc…). I continue to come back because I have gained a better idea of the PTO, and the discussions have sparked a few ideas and MANY questions about our PTO. But do not think for one minute that I have lost site of my main goal and/or issue here (As suggested in #3) of your reply “but I think you need to step back a minute, take a deep breath, and re-focus” Recess is the issue, and the fact that we have run into brick wall after brick wall gives the appearance that our children’s well being is NOT a priority at school or at PTO! This deeply concerns me, hence the continuation of my pursuit to get to the bottom of the unfairness or worse conspiracy between PTO and our school. In other words, I didn’t ask for this, but can not close my eyes to it either. How can I?

That in mind I would like to address a few of the specific questions and comments you posted in your reply to me.

1) Attendance. I did not mean to imply anything other than the attendance was lower than what I am used to seeing in the past. My son is a 3rd grader, so yes; I have been to MANY PTO meetings in the past. This year so far there has ONLY been two. My point about the flyer coming home announcing the 4th grade program was to site that there was NOTHING mentioned in the flyer we’d be addressed about the bond issue by PTO, or listen to a speech by the “Say YES to Kids” chairman. I assure you that the majority of the parents in attendance held camcorders and cameras and where present to watch the PTO program, and NOT to record the politic rhetoric.
2) Size of school. We have 8 elementary schools in our district. The school my son attends has 900 children. To date 1,525 “Parents, grandparents and concerned friends of _______schools students support recess in elementary schools would like a daily recess reinstated @ ______ and at all OUR City’s elementary schools” have signed the petition. Derive from that what you will.
3) Addressed above.

And for your final statement “You don't have the experience to know. Do you have the energy and knowledge to focus on this, as well as recess? Is it really that important in the grand scheme of things? Are laws being broken? Sometimes you need to pick your battles.”
Well MUM, am I suppose to say “Yes-mam” to you here? That is not much more then a low blow, and an attempt to insult me.

I may be just a mom, and seemingly uneducated in the ways you might be educated regarding PTO, but I am smart enough to know something REALLY stinks here and I have guts enough to say so!

Sandy in Texas

[ 11-11-2003, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: SandyinTexas ]

A few thoughts here....

1) attendance--for a meeting announced only a week in advance, with 4th graders performing, my guess is that you mostly got 4th grade parents, plus maybe some others who are generally interested in PTO business. Like some others have said, looks like a great turnout. I know you say you have seen the room packed, but you've also only been to two PTO meetings, so it must have been packed for something more compelling. A hundred people at a PTO meeting is amazing!

2) size of school--with 900 kids, you have 1300+ signatures on the petition (can't remember the exact number now)--something seems out of whack with the mobilization effort of the pro-recess crowd. If there was an expectation or hope that the recess issue would be addressed, there needs to be a better effort made to reach out to those people and get them in the door. A general flyer (where I'm guessing the emphasis was on the 4th grade play) from the PTO isn't going to cut it. Also, those numbers look a little strange--that implies that virtually every school parent has signed that petition, which would make this impossible for the school to ignore--yet they do? Is the situation more one where a smaller amount of school parents have signed it, and you have general support from the community who does not have kids in school? (Lest there be any doubt, I am on your side on this recess thing; something just doesn't seem right.) That would make it a lot easier for the Principal to ignore.

3) last point--this is what you're not going to want to hear me say, and some others will probably clobber me for it. I don't mean to sound condescending, but I think you need to step back a minute, take a deep breath, and re-focus. You are letting this consume you and put a negative tint on everything that has anything to do with the PTO and the school--you walked out on 4th graders!!

Yes, we will all agree with you that asking for a "yes" vote on the bonds was a bad thing. Is this a one-time situation, or is it typical of your PTO? You don't have the experience to know. Do you have the energy and knowledge to focus on this, as well as recess? Is it really that important in the grand scheme of things? Are laws being broken? Sometimes you need to pick your battles.

And yes, I think we all agree with you that recess should be reinstated. But what you're doing isn't working. It's pretty obvious that you're not going to get anywhere with your PTO or your principal, so move on--brainstorm with some other supporters and come up with another approach. I gave you another suggestion in another post; there's also the media and some of the national organizations you quoted in your presentation to the PTO that could be contacted for assistance. Concerned parents don't have to be part of a formal group to advocate for their children, but there is power in numbers, so get your supporters together and work together in a positive and creative way to get recess back for your kids! [img]smile.gif[/img]

We have over 900 students and even at our meeting with the biggest attendence we are lucky to get close to 100. It would be great to have that many people attend!

But we have 900 students! I have seen the room packed (tripled)

And that isn't exactly what I'm concerned with anyway. But thank you Tim.

Sandy

[ 11-10-2003, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: SandyinTexas ]

100 people in total is not generally considered low attendance. In fact, most groups would give their left arms for 100 parent attendance.

Seems like your group is doing some things right, at least if the attendance is any indication.

Tim

I have this bad taste in my mouth. Having just returned from our schools 2nd PTO meeting I wanted to get this groups opinion on the proceedings, and to be honest…you are the ONLY group giving my concerns any consideration or feedback.

This meeting was announced in a flyer sent home with our children a week ago and the 4th graders would be doing a “Thanks Giving” play as well.

The attendance was low, maybe 100 people in total, and the Principal announced the PTO President. The PTO president opened with a few things that “had been brought to the boards attention” (Surprise! Recess or our address to the PTO board, or the petition was NOT one of things she mentioned). After a few initial things were mentioned she announced the Upcoming Bond issue, and the fact that they needed volunteers to work the poles at our school. She also stated that there would be flyers pertaining to the details available after the program. Then she introduced the husband of the board member who was campaigning (our opinion) at the board meeting for the upcoming bond issue last week. He took about 5 + mins. to make his political speech on behave of the Bond issue, and “encouraged us to vote YES!” He asked for our volunteer time, advertisements (signs in yards) and of course any monatery donations we wanted to make to the cause. Then he “thanked us” for our time and the 4th grade program began.

I left the building.

[ 11-10-2003, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: SandyinTexas ]